Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

HPAI Virus Elimination: Per-Square-Foot Flat Rates for

Floor-Raised Poultry January 2024

Introduction

Virus elimination (VE) is a crucial step in the recovery process for facilities infected with 

avian influenza. The cleaning and disinfection (C&D) practices used to achieve VE should 

be cost-effective (APHIS Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Red Book). During past highly 

pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks, reimbursable payments for VE activities were, 

at times, delayed by the necessary paperwork required for cooperative compliance 

agreements (CCAs). These agreements allowed owners of land and structures and 

contractors to be reimbursed for completed work. In January 2016, APHIS issued a flat-rate 

payment on a per-bird basis for HPAI virus elimination activities to help streamline the 

process and expedite payments to affected producers. Separate per-bird VE flat rates were 

released for floor-raised turkeys and broilers to account for differences in bird density.

Since then, APHIS received comments from the public on this policy and reevaluated the 

per-bird VE flat rates to make them more cost-effective while maintaining awareness of our

fiscal responsibility to the taxpayer. Stakeholders also expressed an interest in the 

production types affected by the flat rates and how those rates would be developed and 

updated. Therefore, APHIS revised the VE flat rate for floor-raised poultry and expressed it 

on a square-foot basis instead of a per-bird basis.

The per-square-foot VE flat rate for floor-raised poultry is $0.77 per square foot. This 

information sheet further describes implementation and development of the rate.

What kinds of poultry production are within the scope of this flat rate for floor- raised 

birds?

This per-square-foot flat rate applies to meat-type turkeys, broilers and ducks, as well as 

floor-raised pullets, breeder birds, and gamebirds. This rate does not apply to pullets or egglaying birds housed off the floor or to egg processing or storage facilities.

What costs were included in calculating the flat rate for floor-raised birds?

An overview of financial implications is located on the APHIS Emergency Management 

website for HPAI1. The document outlines the appraisal and indemnity for birds and eggs, 

materials destroyed, depopulation and disposal, and VE. USDA makes the decision to 

clean and disinfect or destroy an item on a case- by-case basis for certain materials.

Disposal includes items that would cost more to clean than they are worth; however, for 

materials that cannot be safely or adequately cleaned, the fair market value of disposed 

items is paid separately. Litter cleanout is part of disposal, not VE, and is not covered by 

the VE flat rate. The removal of birds and litter from the houses part of depopulation and 

disposal, and VE begins after the removal of birds and litter is complete. The revised VE flat 

rate is a single rate for all floor-raised meat birds on a square-foot basis that still covers 

labor, equipment, and supplies to clean and disinfect the interior of barns, equipment, and 

materials.

1 HPAI Indemnity and Compensation

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 1 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 2

Traditionally, cleaning followed by application of a wet disinfectant has been used for VE on 

HPAI-infected premises. During the 2014-2015 outbreak, however, APHIS found that in 

many instances, dry cleaning and heat disinfection of barns was the most cost- and timeeffective VE method. Since the presence of organic material reduces the effectiveness of 

chemical disinfectants, the use of chemical disinfection requires a thorough wet cleaning 

phase in the barn. This wet cleaning phase has historically increased costs and delayed VE 

completion for several reasons. Wet cleaning requires increased time and labor to remove 

soil and large amounts of liquid and solid waste, as well as to apply multiple detergents, 

rinse, and apply disinfectant. Also, barns must dry out completely before the chemical 

disinfectant can be applied. Damp environments support the continued viability of the virus, 

which increases the risk for spread. Heat disinfection, in contrast, penetrates remaining 

organic matter after dry cleaning, eliminating the need for wet cleaning and immediately 

removing organic matter, an environmental factor required for virus viability. Therefore, we 

used heat disinfection and specific related activities to calculate the VE flat rate for floorraised poultry. The flat rate VE payment process allows the owner of the land and 

structures on the premises to select and implement the most appropriate method, as 

approved by State animal health officials and APHIS.

Tables 1 through 4 outline the specific activities used to calculate the VE flat rate for floorraised poultry, and are based on the broad categories (i.e., barn preparation, dry cleaning, 

heat disinfection, equipment disinfection, wet cleaning, and other activities) listed in the 

May 2023 Info Sheet “HPAI Virus Elimination: Per-Square-Foot Flat Rates for Floor- Raised

Poultry” document2. In addition, producers were more cost-efficient when doing VE on their 

own farm in the 2015 HPAI outbreak compared to contractors; the flat-rate approach 

recognizes cost-sharing by producers. The VE flat rate payment for floor-raised poultry 

does not include routine or deferred maintenance or biosecurity activities that are part of 

that cost share.

USDA-APHIS-VS is not mandating any certain approach to VE. The information in this 

document includes examples of the kinds of expenses considered when calculating the flat 

rate for VE (such as labor, supplies, equipment, and utilities). Producers should not 

interpret this list to be required expenses. The VE flat rate is calculated using the costs for 

heat disinfection, which is a proven, cost-effective way of performing VE. This approach 

gives the owner of the land and structures the latitude to decide what is needed to perform 

VE on their premises. However, if the total expenses exceed the amount paid under the VE 

flat rate, the remaining cost would be the responsibility of the owner of the land and 

structures.

2 HPAI Virus Elimination: Per-Square-Foot Flat Rates for Floor-Raised Poultry
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Table 1. Categories of barn preparation activities in the VE flat rate for floor-raised poultry and 

responsible parties

Categories 

activities

of Activities covered-Federal Industry/grower cost-share

Barn preparation

Labor Disassembly and reassembly of:

• Feeders

• Drinkers

• Fans (when cannot stay in the barn and be 

disinfected)

• Heaters (when cannot stay in the barn and 

heat disinfected)

• Other cleanable equipment

Equipment operator time 

Supervisor time

heat

be

•

•

•

•

Mowing around barns

Barn repairs, such as screens

in barn walls

Other routine maintenance

Gravel and road repairs

or holes

Equipment Equipment to move items

trucks and trailers to haul

machinery

listed above, including 

equipment, fuel, and

•

•

Mowers

Herbicide sprayers

Supplies Worker safety supplies:

• Personal protective equipment

• Dumpster for disposal of PPE

(PPE)

•

•

Screens

Herbicide, insecticide, or rodenticide

Table 2. Categories of dry cleaning activities in the VE flat rate for floor-raised poultry and 

responsible parties

Categories 

activities

of Activities covered-Federal Industry/grower cost-share

Dry cleaning (removal of any remaining organic material in barn complete, including vacant barns and feed storage 

facilities) interior after disposal of birds and bedding is

Labor Cleaning of:

• Feeders

• Drinkers

• Fans (when cannot stay in the barn and be heat 

disinfected).

• Heaters (when cannot stay in the barn and be 

heat disinfected)

• Other cleanable equipment

Dusting of barn interior spaces that house or have 

direct contact with poultry or poultry products 

Equipment operator time Supervisor time

Cleaning of:

• Spaces that contain equipment, but

not birds, such as control, tool, or 

ventilation rooms.

• Break room

• Locker room

• Office

• Hallway

• Manure sheds detached from bird 

housing

• Storage spaces for clean litter or feed

• Outdoor areas

Equipment Equipment to dry clean barn interior spaces that 

house or have direct contact with poultry or poultry 

products, including trucks and trailers to haul 

equipment, fuel, and machinery

•

•

Trucks and ATVs 

Portable toilets

for site supervisors

Supplies Worker safety supplies:

• Personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Dumpster for disposal of PPE and supplies 

in dry cleaning

used

•

•

•

Meals for workers

Utilities (keeping the lights 

cleaning)

Hotel and transportation

on while dry
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Table 3. Categories of disinfection activities in the VE flat rate for floor-raised poultry and 

responsible parties

Categories of 

activities

Activities covered-Federal Industry/grower cost-share

Heat disinfection 

consecutive)

of barns (heat barns to between 100° F and 120° F for 7 days, with at least 3 of those days being

Labor Time to:

• Set up heaters

• Monitor heating

• Record temperatures

Equipment operator time Supervisor time 

Electrician time to reroute existing heaters 

technician time to set up external heaters

OR

Disinfection of:

• Spaces that contain equipment, but 

not birds, such as control, tool, or 

ventilation rooms.

• Break room

• Locker room

• Office

• Hallway

• Manure sheds detached from bird 

housing

• Storage spaces for clean litter or 

feed

Equipment Equipment to heat disinfect barns, including trucks 

and trailers to haul equipment, fuel, and machinery

• Trucks and ATVs for site supervisors

Supplies Supplies needed to heat disinfect barns

Utilities Utilities to run heaters and fuel for heaters

Decontamination of equipment

Labor Wash and disinfect: Wash and disinfect: • Feeders

• Drinkers

• Fans (when cannot stay in the barn and be heat 

disinfected)

• Household goods, personal vehicles, 

and other personal, non-farm items 

• Office equipment

• Heaters (when cannot stay in the barn and be 

heat disinfected)

• All equipment listed for dry cleaning

• Other cleanable equipment 

Equipment operator time 

Supervisor time

Equipment Equipment to decontaminate equipment listed above, 

including trucks and trailers to haul equipment, fuel, 

and machinery

• Trucks and ATVs for site supervisors

Supplies Worker safety supplies:

• Personal protective equipment (PPE)

• Dumpster for disposal of PPE and supplies 

used in disinfecting equipment

Water and approved detergent/disinfectant for 

decontaminating equipment

• Sawdust
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Table 4. Categories of additional activities that may be included in the industry/grower cost-share

in the VE flat rate for floor-raised poultry

Categories of activities Industry/grower cost-share

Wet cleaning and disinfection of barns

Labor Washing and disinfecting:

• Light bulbs

• Ledges

• Eaves

• Other interior barn surfaces

• Exterior of barn Application of insecticide/rodenticide

Equipment Equipment for wet cleaning and disinfection

Supplies Supplies for wet cleaning and disinfection

Categories of activities Industry/grower cost-share

Other activities

Admin/ bookkeeping • Clerical and accountant time

• Mileage to meetings

• Legal counsel to review documents

• Time spent at meetings

Restocking preparation

(Labor, equipment, and supplies)

• Purchase of bedding

• Labor and equipment to spread bedding in house

• Any other activities related to restocking preparation after final environmental testing 

has occurred

How did USDA-APHIS-VS analyze VE data from the 2014-2015 HPAI outbreak to estimate 

the flat rates for floor-raised poultry?

Over the course of the 2014-2015 HPAI outbreak, C&D of barn interiors on affected premises 

shifted from wet cleaning and chemical disinfection procedures to less time-intensive and more 

cost-effective methods. The presence of organic material reduces the effectiveness of chemical 

disinfectants. Heat disinfection penetrates remaining organic matter after dry cleaning, 

eliminating the need for wet cleaning and saving time and money to complete VE. Data on the 

costs of these C&D activities were collected from farmer-reported expenditures on commercial 

turkey farms under CCAs, which served as a detailed source of information.

These expenditures were collected from producers who performed all VE activities themselves 

during the 2015 outbreak in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, and Wisconsin in turkey 

finishing barns that ranged from 30,000 to 50,000 square feet and brooder barns that ranged 

from 10,000 to 30,000 square feet. Financial plans typically included information on the costs by 

barn and barn size or information with which to estimate an average cost per barn and average 

barn size. CCAs included the detailed labor, equipment, and supplies typically used to perform 

VE activities as outlined in Tables 1 to 4.

Many turkey farms in the Midwest that used heat disinfection in the 2015 HPAI outbreak did not 

report the rental of external heating units in the CCA financial plans. Instead, many of those 

farms reported electrician time to convert or modify heaters in barns. However, not all farms or 

conditions may allow for that capability going forward. Therefore, the VE flat rates used 

estimates of heating cost from layer barns that underwent VE in the 2015 HPAI outbreak, 

including the rental of external heater units; mobilization of units to and from the farm; service
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technicians; and installation activities to supplement the barn preparation, dry cleaning, heating 

fuel, and barn temperature monitoring costs reported by turkey farms.

USDA-APHIS-VS analyzed the data from the 2015 HPAI outbreak CCAs to calculate the VE 

per-square-foot flat rates for floor-raised poultry for use in future outbreaks. Supplemental data 

on rate inflation factors, personal protective equipment (PPE) used, and heat disinfection 

personnel, equipment, and supplies were also collected as described below. Farm -level 

response cost data used in this analysis did not include indemnity, USDA-APHIS-VS personnel, 

supplies, or overhead. Contractor fees were also not included. We used the Consumer Price 

Index reported from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to inflate some wages, equipment rental 

rates, and supply costs to current dollars.

The PPE needed to perform VE activities was drawn from the PPE usage across USDAAPHIS-VS in the 2014-2015 HPAI outbreak using data on actual shipments of PPE to command 

centers and personnel performing tasks on site. PPE includes coveralls, gloves, boot covers, a 

cap or hood, and a respirator. It was estimated that each responder changed out PPE once 

every 3 hours at a cost of approximately $10/PPE suit. This estimate was used to ensure that 

the flat rate is adequately funded to protect the health and safety of producer employees and 

supervisors performing VE activities.

The average wage rates paid for farm labor were $12.55/hour and for poultry workers,

$17.80/hour; both rates were collected from Indeed.com. The average temporary general 

laborer wage rate collected from State and local level temporary employment agencies was

$19/hour, which included all expenses for worker’s compensation, Federal and State income 

tax, Medicare tax, Social Security, etc., for the top 10 poultry producing States3. Data were also 

collected from Indeed.com to support an average supervisor wage of $20.74/hour.

How are flat rates calculated for floor-raised poultry?

The median4 rates of usage by activity was calculated across turkey finishing barns sized 

30,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet and turkey brooder barns sized 10,000 square feet to 

30,000 square feet. These represented the most common sizes of turkey finishing and turkey 

brooder barns, respectively. To calculate the flat rates, we estimated the median rates of usage 

on personnel, equipment, and supplies per barn.

We calculated the hourly wage for poultry workers by multiplying the average wage rates paid 

for farm labor and poultry workers by 1.5 to give producers the funds to cover their poultry 

worker costs (including wages, unemployment insurance, taxes, other benefits, and possible 

overtime pay). The average of these wage rates with the temporary general laborer wage rate 

resulted in an overall poultry worker wage rate of $22/hour. The supervisor wage rate of

$20.74/hour was also multiplied by 1.5; however, compared to the previous published rates 

supervisor wage rates were 1.5 times the amount of poultry worker wage rates. As a result, we 

set supervisor wage rates at $33/hour. For supervisors, a higher hourly wage may reflect a 

higher level of oversight needed for VE. The average rental rates per day for equipment were 

collected from national level companies for the top 10 poultry producing States. The backpack 

blower and air compressor were priced to reflect purchase of these items, to be retained by the 

producer rather than rented. Finally, all costs per unit except for propane were inflated to 2023 

dollars. For propane, October 2023 values were used.

3

 Arkansas, California, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. 4

 In this set of barns, the mean and median personnel wage rates, equipment rental rates and supply costs were similar. We 

selected the median as a summary statistic across observations to provide the best representation of central tendency. 
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VE Activities

Barn preparation

Dry cleaning

The median activity usage was multiplied by the median cost to get a total cost for each activity. 

These activity totals were summed per barn to get a total barn cost and divided by the average 

barn size to get a VE cost per square foot. Table 5 lists the budget of activities.

Again, since USDA-APHIS-VS determined dry cleaning and heating to be the most costeffective VE method, we used that as the basis for the floor-raised poultry VE flat rate 

calculation. Producers are responsible for conducting or contracting some or all activities for 

successful VE and may choose to use any effective VE method with the funds provided.

These activities represent the requirements for successful VE in the 2014-2015 HPAI outbreak. 

Because there are no VE activities associated with lying fallow, producers who choose this 

approach rather than cleaning to eliminate virus are not offered funding.

Table 5. Representative budget used to estimate a per-square-foot flat rate for floor-raised poultry 

for VE in a representative 35,000 square-foot barn

Description of the activity Use Unit Rate ($/unit) Total ($)

Personnel

Poultry worker Disassembly/reassembly of feeders,

drinkers, fans, heaters, and other

cleanable equipment

14 hr $25.83 $362

Supervisor All barn prep activities 1 hr $38.75 $39

Equipment

Skid steer /1 50 hp 0.5 day $575.36 $288

Supplies

PPE Personal protective equipment 5 suits $11.74 $59

Personnel

Poultry worker All dry-cleaning activities 225 hr $25.83 $5,812

Supervisor All dry-cleaning activities 2 hr $38.75 $77

Equipment

Pay loader /1 150 hp 1 Day $623.50 $624

Skid steer /1 50 hp 0.5 Day $575.36 $288

Tractor /1 150 hp, attachment & box

with rotary broom blade attachment

 0.5 Day $604.71 $302

Blower /2 Backpack blower 1 perbarn $352.26 $352

Air compressor /2 100 psi 1 perbarn $352.26 $352

Lifts /1 All types 0.5 Day $531.91 $266

Supplies

PPE Personal protective equipment 75 suits $11.74 $881

Dumpster All dry-cleaning activities 1 dumpster $382.79 $383

Description of the Activity Use Unit Rate ($/unit) Total ($)
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VE Activities

Wet cleaning of equipment that will not be heat-disinfected

Personnel

Poultry worker All washing and disinfection of 

drinkers feeders, and equipment

71 hr $25.83 $1,834

Supervisor All washing and disinfection of 

drinkers feeders, and equipment

2 hr $38.75 $77

Equipment

Pressure washer/1 PTO-powered for drinkers, feeders,

and equipment

2 Day $352.26 $705

Tractor/2 For PTO-powered equipment 2 Day $234.84 $470

Water trailer/2 1,000 to 1,500 gallons 2 Day $180.83 $362

Supplies

Disinfectant Virkon 7 tubs $77.50 $542

Detergent For cleaning equipment 1 Tub $44.62 $45

PPE Personal protective equipment 24 suits $11.74 $282

Water system cleaner Cid 2000 10 gal $37.57 $376

Heat Disinfection

Personnel

Poultry worker Monitor temperatures 14 hr $25.83 $362

Poultry worker Installation 40 hr $25.83 $1,033

Specialized labor Service technician 1 per barn $797.28 $797

Equipment

Heaters 1 million BTU per barn 2 heaters $2,489.30 $4,979

Ducting Ducting 1 per barn $228.97 $229

Mobilization Mobilization-in and out 1 per barn $2,860.35 $2,860

Supplies

Fuel Fuel for heaters (for the representative 

35,000 square-foot barn)

0.06 gal/sq ft $0.88 $1,848

How much will USDA-APHIS-VS pay for the flat rate for floor-raised birds and how is it paid?

The per-square-foot VE flat rate for floor-raised poultry is $0.77 per square foot. The VE 

payments are made to the owner of the land and the structures that housed the infected birds. 

Most often, this is the grower. USDA-APHIS-VS makes two payments directly to the owner of the 

land and structures, each for 50 percent of the total calculated value. Owners of the land and 

structures may request the initial payment via a VS 1-23 form and are paid after completing the 

flock plan. A (second) final VS 1-23 is signed, and payment is made after laboratory testing of 

environmental samples is completed with negative results reported. The flock plan should clearly 

outline the detailed process and timeline for the expected VE activities as well as expectations for 

all parties. The owner of the land and structures will receive the second payment only after 

following these procedures. USDA-APHIS-VS will provide continued oversight (including input 

and inspections) to ensure that the HPAI virus is quickly contained and fully eliminated.
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How will the square footage included in the payment calculation be measured?

Federal response personnel measure the square footage. Primarily these are case managers, 

site managers, or field reimbursement specialists, but any persons acceptable to the industry 

and State may perform this task. The areas to be measured are those directly involved with 

poultry housing that under normal biosecurity conditions would be expected to have 

contamination. Areas listed as producer cost-share in Table 2 are not included in the 

measurements.

How frequently will the flat rate for floor-raised poultry be reviewed?

VE flat rates will be reviewed annually to incorporate October propane prices, just before the

beginning of the highest risk period for avian influenza. These rates should be appropriate 

through most of the influenza season.

For more information, contact:

USDA–APHIS–VS–CEAH

NRRC Building B, M.S. 2E7 

2150 Centre Avenue

Fort Collins, CO 80526-8117 

970.494.7200

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